Chapter 12: Threats and Warnings from the East Blue's Powers
Near Cocoyashi Village in the Conomi Kingdom, a red-haired girl hastily adjusted the sails, hoping to catch the sea breeze to propel her forward. She was anxious to get back to her village. A small pile of packages was still stacked on her sailboat, and a golden glint shone from the opening of one. These were the treasures that the young cat burglar, Nami, had stolen during this voyage.
"Faster! Faster!" Nami's face was etched with worry. She only wanted to return to the village quickly to take Nojiko and Genzo, and evacuate everyone. The Conomi Kingdom had been breached, and the royal family exiled, which meant the Goa Kingdom's army would soon conquer the remaining territory.
Nami believed the Goa Kingdom's army would inevitably clash with Arlong's crew. She knew how arrogant and savage Arlong and his Fish-Man crew were. Once a war broke out, Cocoyashi Village would likely be caught in the crossfire. She no longer cared about the buildings or the orange groves; she only hoped her family and the villagers would survive safely.
According to the news Nami had gathered, the Goa Kingdom's army was formidable, having consecutively breached four kingdoms—an unprecedented feat in the history of the East Blue. With such overwhelming strength, she felt that even Arlong's crew couldn't stand against them. Nami even hoped the Goa Kingdom's army would wipe out the hateful Arlong Pirates.
As for the Marines, Nami had long given up hope on them. She had secretly discovered some evidence of Arlong's cooperation with the Marines, which left her with no choice but to desperately cling to her deal with Arlong: to earn 100 million Berries to buy back her village.
At Marine Branch 16, the sound of gunfire had ceased. "Don't kill me! Don't kill me! I'm a Marine Colonel!" Colonel Nezumi knelt in terror before Kael. He had never imagined that the Goa Kingdom's warships would arrive so quickly. It was as if, after conquering the Conomi Royal City, they had simply dealt with the royal family and came straight to his branch. He had reported the news to Marineford less than half an hour ago.
"Your little rat's private stash is quite impressive." Kael was surprised by the money found in Colonel Nezumi's private vault. A mere Branch Colonel had over a billion Berries in assets. In just six short years, Arlong had bribed Colonel Nezumi with a considerable sum.
It was no wonder the Conomi Kingdom's royal house was so poor. Besides paying the celestial tribute, it turned out that all the other money was in the hands of Colonel Nezumi and Arlong. Colonel Nezumi ate and drank lavishly, bribed his superiors and subordinates, and still managed to save so much. He truly lived a more comfortable life than a king of the Allied Nations, acting as a local emperor.
Eric looked at the "ill-gotten gains" and "booty" being transported by the Goa Royal Guard, his eyes filled with greed and desire. He risked his life fighting on the front lines, yet he couldn't earn even tens of millions of Berries in mercenary fees and extra bounties. In contrast, Kael, the King of Goa, simply started a war, gave a few instructions, and reaped a fortune. The treasuries of four kingdoms and the dirty money from a Marine Branch—such a massive sum made Eric's heart ache with envy.
"Send him to join Morgan!" Kael commanded. "Let's go, we're departing for Cocoyashi Village. I want to see how strong this Arlong, with the highest bounty in the East Blue, really is!" After suppressing the Marines of Marine Branch 16, Kael led his subordinates directly to their next destination.
"Yes!" The Goa Royal Guards, nobles, and officials grew increasingly confident and arrogant. Their great King had successively annexed four kingdoms, elevating the Goa Kingdom to an unprecedented height. This was a supreme glory for all subjects of the Goa Kingdom, which was now on the rise!
On the way from Marine Branch 16 to Cocoyashi Village, Kael, who was in a good mood, suddenly received an urgent call from Queen Sally. Sally's distressed report made Kael's expression turn cold.
"My husband, Queen Ban Dedessinée of the Frauce Kingdom has advised us to stop the war," Sally reported. "She has already hired the Germa 66 army from the North Blue. If the Goa Kingdom continues to expand, she will take countermeasures."
Queen Sally's voice was filled with anger as she relayed the information about the Frauce Kingdom to Kael. The Frauce Kingdom, one of the fifty World Conference nations, was a famous and strong Allied Nation in the East Blue. They had once hired the infamous Germa 66 army to destroy their rival, the Korgia Kingdom, allowing them to expand their territory and greatly increase their strength. The former Korgia Kingdom was now the Frauce Kingdom's new Korgia stronghold.
"Germa 66!" Kael's eyes were cold. Although he had planned to take a break after annexing these four countries to consolidate the new territories, the Frauce Kingdom was now using Germa 66 to threaten him. This made Kael very displeased. This Queen Ban Dedessinée seemed to be an ambitious minor ruler. The war in the Oykot Kingdom back then, Nami and Nojiko's homeland, was also related to this Frauce Kingdom.
The Frauce Kingdom was a domineering, expansionist kingdom, truly worthy of being one of the fifty World Conference nations. However, this Queen Ban Dedessinée was now a dead woman walking! How dare she threaten Kael!
"First, stabilize the Frauce Kingdom! Our expansion efforts are about to halt!" Kael thought for a moment and instructed Queen Sally on how to respond. This "retreat" was not a true retreat, but merely a strategic step back for Kael, to better build momentum to strike back. He would see if those modified humans of Germa 66 could withstand the power of his Toki Toki no Mi (Time-Time Fruit).
"Understood, I will stabilize Queen Ban Dedessinée!" Queen Sally felt incredibly safe hearing Kael's calm and strategic tone. She believed her man would suppress all crises.
"When I return, my dear Sally, you will be the Empress of the Goa Kingdom!" Kael soothed Queen Sally's emotions.
"I'll wait for you, my hero husband!" Queen Sally sweetly hung up the Transponder Snail, and the gloomy mood caused by Queen Ban Dedessinée's threat instantly dissipated.
Kael put down the Transponder Snail, his expression growing even colder. This scared Eric and Van Auger so much that they didn't dare to speak, and even the Royal Guards stood stiffly, a bead of cold sweat appearing on their noses. Jango, Siamese Cat, Spotted Cat, and the other slaves prostrated on the deck, trembling. Kael was in a terrible mood.
"I heard the Arlong Pirates established an 'Arlong Empire' in Cocoyashi Village!" Kael said coldly. "A tiny village dares to call itself an empire! What level is Arlong, to dare establish an empire like me! Annihilate him!"
Kael's Royal Guards and mercenaries were put on full alert. This battle to annihilate Arlong must be fought with maximum effort and without any mistakes. Otherwise, no one could withstand the wrath of King Kael. They did not want to be exiled, or worse, instantly erased.